Japan’s Rise in Anti-Immigration Sentiment and Far-Right Politics

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As anti-immigration sentiment surges across Japan amid a shrinking labor force and changing political tides, contemporary populist movements are obscuring a complex, centuries-old history of strategic diplomatic and cultural engagement with the Islamic world. According to reporting from The Conversation and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), the mainstream rise of nationalist political entities has coincided with heightened public hostility toward foreign residents, masking decades of calculated geopolitical outreach by Tokyo.

The Rise of Sanseito and Domestic Anti-Immigrant Politics

Japan’s political landscape has shifted dramatically following the COVID-19 pandemic. According to ABC reporting, the nationalist political party Sanseito transitioned from a fringe anti-vaccination and wellness movement into a potent political force centered on an “America First”-style platform adapted for domestic politics. Professor Tetsuro Kobayashi of the Waseda University School of Political Science and Economics noted that Sanseito capitalized on public anxieties by absorbing anti-establishment factions.

The party’s electoral breakthrough materialized when it secured 15 seats in the lower house and 15 seats in the upper house of the Japanese parliament, establishing itself as the fourth-largest opposition force. This legislative momentum pressured Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to adopt a more restrictive stance on immigration. Government policy adjustments now include stricter requirements for foreign property owners, higher visa application fees, and proposed caps on incoming residents.

Public opinion polling reflects this tightening climate. A telephone survey conducted by the national newspaper Asahi Shimbun in November 2025 revealed that 66 percent of respondents backed these stricter regulatory measures. Furthermore, 56 percent of participants stated that Japan did not need an influx of additional immigrants and visitors.

Human Toll on Foreign Residents

The hardening political rhetoric has manifested as tangible social friction for expatriates living in major Japanese urban centers. Foreign residents have reported an increase in public hostility, including instances of intentional shoving in transit hubs—a phenomenon locally described as butsukari—and xenophobic verbal harassment telling foreigners to leave the country.

Foreign nationals residing in cities like Kobe and Tokyo have noted a distinct cooling in public hospitality. Nikki Maruschak, an expatriate living in Japan, detailed experiences of unprovoked physical aggression and hostile stares in public spaces following major electoral gains by nationalist candidates.

Obscuring a History of Strategic Islamic Engagement

The contemporary populist push for insularity stands in stark contrast to Japan’s historical foreign policy.

Global far-right networks have increasingly amplified local disputes in Japan, tying domestic grievances to broader transnational anti-immigrant talking points.

The Path Forward for Municipalities and Expatriates

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